What is a Kidney Yang deficiency and how does it relate to progesterone in the luteal phase?
As a specialist in natural treatments, Creative Acupuncture helps women struggling with fertility caused by a range of medical issues.
Whether you’re seeking support during the IVF or IUI process, our clinic in Wolverhampton welcomes patients from across the local area.
Our natural treatments include those related to traditional Chinese medicine, including fertility acupuncture for what’s known as a Kidney Yang deficiency. This is linked to what’s known as the luteal phase in your menstrual cycle.
Acupuncture to promote one’s natural fertility.
In Chinese Medicine, Yang is the masculine energy of the body, in direct relation to Yin- the feminine energy. We need both in balance to sustain life and for optimum health.
Each organ has a balance of Yin and Yang. However the organ is deficient, the Yin or Yang energy can also become deficient.
Although Kidney Yang deficiency is the most common diagnosis in fertility acupuncture, it is often diagnosed alongside Kidney Yin deficiency. This is because the Kidney energy is fundamental to female fertility. The Kidney supports the Uterus (note that in Chinese Medicine we capitalise the organ names and names of substances such as Yang, as we deem them so important).
In Western Medicine, Yang equates to progesterone and rises in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, if Kidney Yang is deficient, progesterone may be low, the luteal phase may be short, the Uterus wouldn’t be sufficiently warmed and this would affect embryo implantation.
This type of acupuncture is therefore ideal for progesterone deficiencies and defects in the luteal phase.
Fertility issues associated with Kidney Yang deficiency include:
- Low progesterone (lower than 40 at implantation or day of embryo transfer)
- Luteal phase defect
- BBT chart – slow to rise after ovulation
- Miscarriages
- A poor response to IVF
In Chinese Medicine, the qualities of Yang energy are warming and strengthening. It is a daytime energy (as opposed to the evening and night time energy of Yin) associated with brightness and action.
The Kidney channel starts on the feet, and is associated with the emotion, ‘fear’ and the thyroid. The Kidney is related to bones, and the element ‘water’. In fact, the Chinese term for the menstrual blood which the Kidney oversees, is Heavenly Water.
How does this manifest in symptoms?
Fatigue
As the Yang should provide daytime energy and strength, when Kidney Yang is deficient, you might experience tiredness, lethargy and a decreased libido.
Loose stools and backache on your period
Although stabbing back pain can be a symptom of a different diagnosis, a dull low back ache in the area of the kidneys can signify a deficiency in the kidney energy.
You may also experience aching knees, as the kidney is related to the bones. The Yang of the Kidney and digestive system are closely related, so during your period, you can experience diarrhoea or loose stools if the kidney is not strong enough to support the other organs.
Cold
The most common symptom I see at my acupuncture clinic in women suffering Kidney Yang deficiency is a feeling of being cold. In particular, they tend to experience chilly hands and feet. The abdomen may also be cold if the kidney has not sufficiently warmed the uterus.
Similar to animals in nature, a human baby also needs a warm environment to grow and thrive. Recurrent IVF failure and/or frequent miscarriages can occur if the uterus is cold.
Underactive Thyroid
It is important to get a blood test for both the thyroid (any day of your cycle) and progesterone (7 days after ovulation). Hypothyroidism is associated with Kidney Yang deficiency. However, it is common to have Kidney Yang deficiency as a fertility diagnosis, without thyroid issues.
Fear or Anxiety
In Chinese medicine, the kidney energy is associated with the emotion, ‘fear’. Therefore with weak energy in these organs, you may suffer from anxiety or fears such as phobias.
Tongue – wet and swollen
In Chinese Medicine, a diagnosis of the tongue forms a part of the consultation process. A Yang deficient tongue would be wet and swollen, which indicates deficiency. The wetness of the tongue shows that the Kidney is not supporting the water passages, as its element is water.
Fertility Issues
Low progesterone, short luteal phase, short cycle of 26 days or less, watery blood, BBT chart that is slow to rise after ovulation, implantation failure, IVF failure and miscarriage are all indications that the Kidney Yang requires support in Chinese Medicine.
How to support the Kidney Yang:
- Through the power of acupuncture
Acupuncture to strengthen Kidney Yang, focuses on the Kidney channel on the leg and abdomen. You are likely to have a heat lamp on the abdomen to warm the Uterus. It is important to be aware that Kidney Yang deficiency is rarely if ever, diagnosed in isolation and there will be other organs to support as well.
This is a treatment we can offer at our clinic in Wolverhampton.
- Rest and Meditation
The kidney naturally declines with age, as does fertility. To keep this organ healthy, we shouldn’t live a hectic lifestyle, in terms of work-life balance, but make time for meditation and rest.
- Healing Waters
The energy of the kidney is associated with the element of WATER and cold weather. Water is healing, but this should be warm or hot water, such as in a bath, or spa. Don’t spend time in the rain and make sure you dry your hair afterwards.
- Keep Warm
You can keep your kidney energy and uterus warm by:
- Wearing socks and slippers on cold floors and in the house.
- Wearing a vest or haramaki, which is a Japanese abdomen warmer, used in fertility practices.
- Eating and drinking warm food and beverages. Ie. Cooked meals and hot drinks.
- Eat energetically warming foods. These are called Yang foods and include but are not limited to: chilli, garlic, spices.
- Use moxa on the abdomen and kidney channel on the leg.
Have a great week and hope to see you at my clinic in Wolverhampton soon!
Natalia
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